2015 Vintage Wine Auction by Strauss & Co
The Strauss & Co Fine Wine department is excited to introduce one of our most anticipated catalogues, the 2015 Vintage Wine Auction, a decade into maturity.“It is a remarkable vintage, for both reds and whites,” writes Tim Atkin in his 2016 annual South African report. The hype of the vintage was no doubt assisted by the first perfect score for a young South African wine by an international critic. The Kanonkop Paul Sauer 2015 was awarded 100/100 in 2018 and quoted as “one of the greatest young wines I have ever tasted”.
And fittingly, “The vintage lived up to expectations!” says James Pietersen, panel taster for the Winemag.co.za 10-Year-Old Wine Report 2025, the winners of which, straight from the producers' cellars, are once again offered in the sale.
The short, early vintage at the start of a drought cycle, produced rich, pure and poised wines. Along with Paul Sauer, classics such as Meerlust Rubicon and Le Riche Reserve are barely in their drinking window and will age well for decades to come.
“The 2015 vintage is widely regarded as one of the finest of the modern era out of the Cape,” says senior wine specialist Higgo Jacobs. “Boasting concentration and structure, the reds, especially from Stellenbosch, show great ageing potential and most of the lots on offer are only starting to enter their wide drinking windows now. This means that wines are still on the up, while undervalued release prices (before a general market correction) make for prices that still constitute good value and investment, even when factoring in the appreciation over the last decade.”
Benchmarks
The catalogue includes benchmarks of the vintage in Kanonkop Paul Sauer, Meerlust Rubicon and Le Riche Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, while offering interesting variety from the likes of Alheit Family, Leeu Passant, Sadie Family and more, along with wines to watch such as the undervalued Alto Cabernet Sauvignon, Keet 1st Verse and gems from Tokara.
There are also two Wine Cellar VIP 2015 lots going under the hammer – a vintage, investment, portfolio of South African 2015 wines offered by retailer WineCellar.co.za. The majority of VIP 2015 are Bordeaux-inspired wines, such as the Tim Atkin 100-point Paul Sauer and 5-star Platter Le Riche Reserve. All the blue-chip properties are included, such as Meerlust, Rustenberg, Waterford, Warwick, Tokara, Vilafonte, Vergelegen, Hartenberg, Neil Ellis, Rust en Vrede and Alto, along with the iconic Kanonkop Pinotage and two Syrahs from Boekenhoutskloof and Mullineux. 60 of the VIP 2015 were curated and this is a tremendous investment in South African wines, or an instant, amazing cellar.
Classics
Further afield, the vintage also achieved greatness in classic regions such as Burgundy, Bordeaux, Tuscany and Piedmont. 2015 was an excellent year as Europe had an intensely hot summer and many regions were affected by drought. Although the top wines are still young, the sale offers a range of attractive buys that are ready to be enjoyed.
Highlights from Italy include Paolo Scavino, Fontodi, Massolino and Terre Nere. Burgundy features well with rarities from Fourrier, Mongeard-Mugneret, Arnoux-Lachaux and more, while highlights from Bordeaux are Malescot St Exupéry and Troplong Mondot.
Don’t miss this unique opportunity to explore and acquire rare, iconic, and highly collectable wines at very affordable pricing.
The 2015 Vintage Auction closes on Monday 10 March from 18:00 at one-minute intervals.